14 Day Portrait Challenge: Rebecca Dixuan Bai

Rebecca Dixuan Bai is a digital artist and motion graphics designer originally from Hangzhou, China and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Working in 2D illustration and as an animator and video editor, Bai has contributed her unique style and sharp eye for visual design to projects for the United Nations and Claire’s among numerous national and international clients. Her documentary series, The New New Yorker, captures the stories of creatives who have recently moved to New York, talking not only about their work but about how they find home in a new place, paralleling Bai’s own experiences. With vibrant, neon color palettes and detailed line-work, it’s easy to get lost in Bai’s lush animations (and she even played with geometric forms for her portrait of Pablo Picasso). You can see more of Bai’s moving work on her Vimeo and Youtube channel, check out her latest creative experiments on her Instagram, and see her portfolio of digital illustration and animation on her website.

Why did you decide to do the 14 Day Portrait Challenge?

I’m a big fan of the Sketchbook Project and the Brooklyn Art Library. I browse Instagram daily and one day found this really cool opportunity! I always loved to sketch but never tried sketching for 14 days straight. I thought I was a great opportunity to challenge myself and expand my creative limits.

What were some of your favorite pieces to come out of this experience? Or the most challenging (or both)?

I think my favorite and most challenging piece was the ‘Who would you have a meal with?’ sketch. It was a very emotional piece for me. Most people might think about their idols or significant others who they can’t see during quarantine. But when I saw this topic, my mom just appeared in my mind. She passed away a couple years ago; very suddenly and without saying goodbye. I can’t say when was the last time I had a meal with her, so I guess that’s also why she is always appearing in my artwork; it’s my way of grieving.

When did you begin making art? Was there a particular moment that inspired you?

I’ve been drawing since elementary school. My parents felt I should have one good hobby that I practiced daily, so my Mom forced me to practice piano. I hated it and, one day, I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I drew a picture of myself crying while playing piano and my mom next to me angry and yelling with big sharp teeth. From then on, I knew drawing was my first artistic passion. After graduating from college with a video production degree, I realized there are so many more ways to express my creativity, especially with mixed media: from sketching to graphic design, to drawing storyboards, to editing videos and animations. Everywhere in life is full of surprises and hidden gems of inspiration. That’s where my creativity comes from.

How has quarantine impacted your creativity?

Quarantine definitely has had a huge impact on my creativity. It refreshed my perspective of all the familiar things around me: the rug, the couch, computers, our plants, little decorations on the wall. Since we can’t really go out very often, all these small things become the center of our world. Probably a lot of artists feel the same; they get more concentrated, more focused, and more motivated during this interesting time in our lives. I’ve never felt so full of ideas about my art making, no matter which medium it is presented with.

What does your workspace look like now?

Working from home, your home is your office. I take up most of the space in our living room. I have my computer and monitor set up by my husband Danny (thank you!), and my drawing tablet in case I need to do some digital drawing. Most of the time I use my iPad to draw and create new artwork and cell animations. And books, so many books from all fields: history, mythology, fiction, philosophy, astronomy, design, magazine, music, movies, etc. Most importantly, I have many notebooks where I can sketch ideas by hand before I digitize them with the iPad and computer.

You’ve worked on numerous video and still-image, digital illustration projects. What role does sketching play in your creative practice?

Sketching for me is quite an important prerequisite of creating any type of art. For video production, it’s important to create a storyboard before digging into the filming and editing process. It helps you layout the overall scene and storyline, while also determining the right angles and movements with the camera. Same as in animation or illustration; sketching plays a big role because it will be your reference for the artwork making.

What are some of your favorite materials to work with at the moment?

I got my iPad Pro last year, and ever since that I started using an Apple pencil to draw like crazy! I’ve also recently started taking typography and lettering classes, so if I don’t have my iPad near me, I will start sketching by simply using a pencil and notebook.

You work as a 2D animator and video editor. When did you realize that you could pursue making art as a career?

I came to America to study digital communication and multimedia for my masters degree and since graduating in 2015, I have made my first career as a video editor. During the quarantine, I finally had some time to learn animation and rediscover my love of drawing, so that started my career as a 2D animator as well.

Do you have any advice for those wanting to pursue a similar path, or anyone looking to develop their unique animation style?

Being an artist is not easy. Obstacles can come from financial constraints or family pressure, but if you really love it you just need to keep at it. Never stop learning. Read everything you can. Treat everything in your life as a creative signal. Imagine you are driving a car, and you just keep going! The most important thing is don’t let other people’s judgment affect your courage.

What gets you through creative blocks?

I like what the graphic designer Paula Scher said, “I could never walk into an office and sit down at my desk to design. I would accomplish nothing. Then you walk upstairs, go into the ladies’ room, put on your lipstick and figure it out.” You have to keep moving and take breaks!

How can people support your work?

I know that sometimes artists can get very lonely and isolated, that’s why I really appreciate what the Brooklyn Art Library and the Sketchbook Project are doing. It’s a really precious opportunity to share and appreciate each other’s’ artwork from all over the world. I think having a community with a platform to share, communicate, learn and grow, is the best way to support all of our work. The more people that can see our work, the more feedback and inspiration we will gain! If you ever need a freelance animator or a video editor, let me know so we can jam!